She has done a good work for Me —Mark 14:6
If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.
Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a good work for Me."
There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. “. . . but perfect love casts out fear . . .” once we are surrendered to God (1 John 4:18). We should quit asking ourselves, “Am I of any use?” and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.
你曾否為他忘形？
她在我身上作的是一件美事。 （可十四6）
愛若不能叫人忘形，就不是愛。愛若是拘謹、明智、合理、計較、從不會忘形的，那根本不是愛。
我曾否為神成就一事而虛己忘形，不是因為責任，不是因著有用，也不是因著任何緣故，而單單因為我愛他？我有沒有奉上他所看為珍貴的東西？還是我在他偉大的救恩里遊手好閒，不去做周圍無數正等著我去做的事？不一定是大事，才稱為美妙的，日常的、平凡的俗務，都可以見證我向神的順服。我曾否使主喜悅，正如伯大尼馬利亞所做的？
有時神似乎在觀察，看我們願不願意把真愛毫不保留地表現出來。完全歸神，比個人的聖潔更有價值。個人的聖潔使我們只注視本身的潔白，叫我們十分謹慎自己的言行舉止，唯恐得罪了神。若我們無保留地歸神，完全的愛情就能把這些一概拋開。要除掉這個念頭：[我有沒有用？ ]要深信自己無用，這才更接近真相。因為那根本不是有用與否的問題，而在神是否看為寶貴。我們若全然歸神，他每時每刻都藉著我們作工。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，願我愈來愈渴望將愛心如衣服般穿上，以致當我與人接觸，他便成為人最恆久認出的東西。
February 21, 2013
February 20, 2013
Taking the Initiative Against Daydreaming
Arise, let us go from here —John 14:31
Daydreaming about something in order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. In this passage, after having said these wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected our Lord to tell them to go away and meditate over them all. But Jesus never allowed idle daydreaming. When our purpose is to seek God and to discover His will for us, daydreaming is right and acceptable. But when our inclination is to spend time daydreaming over what we have already been told to do, it is unacceptable and God’s blessing is never on it. God will take the initiative against this kind of daydreaming by prodding us to action. His instructions to us will be along the lines of this: “Don’t sit or stand there, just go!”
If we are quietly waiting before God after He has said to us, “Come aside by yourselves . . .” then that is meditation before Him to seek His will (Mark 6:31). Beware, however, of giving in to mere daydreaming once God has spoken. Allow Him to be the source of all your dreams, joys, and delights, and be careful to go and obey what He has said. If you are in love with someone, you don’t sit and daydream about that person all the time— you go and do something for him. That is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Daydreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.
控制夢想的動力
起來，我們走罷。 （約十四31）
為求事情做得好而產生的夢想，原是對的。但在實行時仍在發夢，那就不對了。我們的主對門徒說完了那番美好的教訓後，我們多半以為他會吩咐門徒好好去默想；但主從來不容讓我們只有空想。與神相交，要尋求他的心意，夢想是可以的；但當神已經告訴我們怎樣做，我們仍想花時間去做夢，這就不對了，神是不會祝福這事。神對此等夢想，總是鞭辟入裡，要給我們一個當頭棒喝。這一棒叫我們[不要再坐著，再站著，乃要出去]。
若果我們正安靜等候神，他說：[來歇一歇吧！ ]這是在神面前的默想，為要明白神的心意，但一旦神已經說了，就不要耽擱在夢想裡。讓神成為你一切的夢想、一切賞心樂事的源頭，然後遵行他所吩咐的。在愛情裡，你不會一天到晚坐在那裡，夢想你所愛的人；你會去為他有所行動；著真是耶穌基督期望我們做的。當神顯明他的心意，而我們仍在發夢，那表示我們並不信任他。
祈禱◆在我感到自己變得完全無用，只有軟弱的當兒，我何等需要全然抓緊你。我感到自己已經錯失了那起點，而我現時似乎在這種感受下屈服。主啊，求你糾正我的意念和理想。
Daydreaming about something in order to do it properly is right, but daydreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. In this passage, after having said these wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected our Lord to tell them to go away and meditate over them all. But Jesus never allowed idle daydreaming. When our purpose is to seek God and to discover His will for us, daydreaming is right and acceptable. But when our inclination is to spend time daydreaming over what we have already been told to do, it is unacceptable and God’s blessing is never on it. God will take the initiative against this kind of daydreaming by prodding us to action. His instructions to us will be along the lines of this: “Don’t sit or stand there, just go!”
If we are quietly waiting before God after He has said to us, “Come aside by yourselves . . .” then that is meditation before Him to seek His will (Mark 6:31). Beware, however, of giving in to mere daydreaming once God has spoken. Allow Him to be the source of all your dreams, joys, and delights, and be careful to go and obey what He has said. If you are in love with someone, you don’t sit and daydream about that person all the time— you go and do something for him. That is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Daydreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.
控制夢想的動力
起來，我們走罷。 （約十四31）
為求事情做得好而產生的夢想，原是對的。但在實行時仍在發夢，那就不對了。我們的主對門徒說完了那番美好的教訓後，我們多半以為他會吩咐門徒好好去默想；但主從來不容讓我們只有空想。與神相交，要尋求他的心意，夢想是可以的；但當神已經告訴我們怎樣做，我們仍想花時間去做夢，這就不對了，神是不會祝福這事。神對此等夢想，總是鞭辟入裡，要給我們一個當頭棒喝。這一棒叫我們[不要再坐著，再站著，乃要出去]。
若果我們正安靜等候神，他說：[來歇一歇吧！ ]這是在神面前的默想，為要明白神的心意，但一旦神已經說了，就不要耽擱在夢想裡。讓神成為你一切的夢想、一切賞心樂事的源頭，然後遵行他所吩咐的。在愛情裡，你不會一天到晚坐在那裡，夢想你所愛的人；你會去為他有所行動；著真是耶穌基督期望我們做的。當神顯明他的心意，而我們仍在發夢，那表示我們並不信任他。
祈禱◆在我感到自己變得完全無用，只有軟弱的當兒，我何等需要全然抓緊你。我感到自己已經錯失了那起點，而我現時似乎在這種感受下屈服。主啊，求你糾正我的意念和理想。
February 19, 2013
Taking the Initiative Against Drudgery
Arise, shine . . . —Isaiah 60:1
When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God. There is no point in waiting for God to help us— He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue— a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.
Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine. Read John 13. In this chapter, we see the Incarnate God performing the greatest example of drudgery— washing fishermen’s feet. He then says to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it. Our Lord takes our human flesh and transforms it, and now every believer’s body has become “the temple of the Holy Spirit”
應付苦差的動力
興起發光（賽六十1）
我們踏上第一步，好像神沒有在那裡一般。空等神來幫助是無濟於事的，他不會來；然而當我們有所行動，就發現他在那裡了。神的感動往往是道德性的。我們不要老是呆在那裡，像一根方木似的，是要起來行動。只要興起發光，苦差便在神的光中變相。
苦差是磨練人最佳的試金石。苦差不是理想的工作，而是最低賤的工作。但一觸及這些工作，就立刻知道我們的屬靈情況。約翰福音十三章記載：道成肉身的神作了一件最不討好的苦差，就是洗漁夫的腳。他說：[我是你們的主，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。 ]苦差需要神的感動，有神的光照在其中。有些人做一件事，便有好的表現，使那件事染上光彩。可能是一件極普通的事，但當他們做過之後，就完全不同了。每當主叫我們做事，他總叫那事變了形象。我們的主披上了血肉之體，叫它改變形象，使之成為聖徒聖靈的殿。
祈禱◆讓神的氣息吹向我，直至我的意念和心靈能適當地調校向你。求你在我們當中和我們心內，散發自由、純潔和能力。
When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God. There is no point in waiting for God to help us— He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue— a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.
Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine. Read John 13. In this chapter, we see the Incarnate God performing the greatest example of drudgery— washing fishermen’s feet. He then says to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it. Our Lord takes our human flesh and transforms it, and now every believer’s body has become “the temple of the Holy Spirit”
應付苦差的動力
興起發光（賽六十1）
我們踏上第一步，好像神沒有在那裡一般。空等神來幫助是無濟於事的，他不會來；然而當我們有所行動，就發現他在那裡了。神的感動往往是道德性的。我們不要老是呆在那裡，像一根方木似的，是要起來行動。只要興起發光，苦差便在神的光中變相。
苦差是磨練人最佳的試金石。苦差不是理想的工作，而是最低賤的工作。但一觸及這些工作，就立刻知道我們的屬靈情況。約翰福音十三章記載：道成肉身的神作了一件最不討好的苦差，就是洗漁夫的腳。他說：[我是你們的主，尚且洗你們的腳，你們也當彼此洗腳。 ]苦差需要神的感動，有神的光照在其中。有些人做一件事，便有好的表現，使那件事染上光彩。可能是一件極普通的事，但當他們做過之後，就完全不同了。每當主叫我們做事，他總叫那事變了形象。我們的主披上了血肉之體，叫它改變形象，使之成為聖徒聖靈的殿。
祈禱◆讓神的氣息吹向我，直至我的意念和心靈能適當地調校向你。求你在我們當中和我們心內，散發自由、純潔和能力。
February 18, 2013
Taking the Initiative Against Despair
Rise, let us be going —Matthew 26:46
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.
There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, “Get up, and do the next thing.” If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.
Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
抗拒絕望的動力
起來，我們走罷。 （太二十六46）
門徒該儆醒的時候，卻睡著了。當我們發現自己這個樣子，就失望灰心。事情既無可追悔，就很容易沮喪說：[事到如今，再無挽回的餘地了。 ]我們若認為這樣的沮喪是不經常的，那就錯了，這實在是司空見慣的人生經歷。當我們醒覺自己錯過了大好的行事機會，勢必沉溺在失望之中，耶穌基督說：[安睡罷，機會失去不再回來，也無法挽回。但起來罷，百尺竿頭，更進一步。 ]
讓過去的事消逝吧！只要消逝在主的胸懷裡；然後與他一同迎接不可抗拒的未來。在各自的人生中，我們都有這樣的經驗——陷在頹唐沮喪中。這種沮喪是從現實而來，我們無法自拔。這里門徒做了無可饒恕的事，就是沒有與耶穌一同警醒，反而睡著了。但他卻給予他們對抗沮喪的動力——[起來，行下一步吧。 ]我們有了神的感動，下一步該是什麼？完全信靠他，在他救贖的憑據上禱告。千萬別讓失敗的意識阻礙你新的行動。
祈禱◆主啊，一份茫然的孤寂感似乎圍繞著我的生命，它是那樣的模糊不清，令我難以將它說明。我沒有下過錯誤的決定，因為我已經按照你所指示的去行，但那種不肯定的感覺卻揮之不去。求你抹去這片迷濛的雲霧，將它變成帶著秩序和形式的青天。
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples went to sleep when they should have stayed awake, and once they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of having done something irreversible tends to make us despair. We say, “Well, it’s all over and ruined now; what’s the point in trying anymore.” If we think this kind of despair is an exception, we are mistaken. It is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize we have not taken advantage of a magnificent opportunity, we are apt to sink into despair. But Jesus comes and lovingly says to us, in essence, “Sleep on now. That opportunity is lost forever and you can’t change that. But get up, and let’s go on to the next thing.” In other words, let the past sleep, but let it sleep in the sweet embrace of Christ, and let us go on into the invincible future with Him.
There will be experiences like this in each of our lives. We will have times of despair caused by real events in our lives, and we will be unable to lift ourselves out of them. The disciples, in this instance, had done a downright unthinkable thing— they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus. But our Lord came to them taking the spiritual initiative against their despair and said, in effect, “Get up, and do the next thing.” If we are inspired by God, what is the next thing? It is to trust Him absolutely and to pray on the basis of His redemption.
Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
抗拒絕望的動力
起來，我們走罷。 （太二十六46）
門徒該儆醒的時候，卻睡著了。當我們發現自己這個樣子，就失望灰心。事情既無可追悔，就很容易沮喪說：[事到如今，再無挽回的餘地了。 ]我們若認為這樣的沮喪是不經常的，那就錯了，這實在是司空見慣的人生經歷。當我們醒覺自己錯過了大好的行事機會，勢必沉溺在失望之中，耶穌基督說：[安睡罷，機會失去不再回來，也無法挽回。但起來罷，百尺竿頭，更進一步。 ]
讓過去的事消逝吧！只要消逝在主的胸懷裡；然後與他一同迎接不可抗拒的未來。在各自的人生中，我們都有這樣的經驗——陷在頹唐沮喪中。這種沮喪是從現實而來，我們無法自拔。這里門徒做了無可饒恕的事，就是沒有與耶穌一同警醒，反而睡著了。但他卻給予他們對抗沮喪的動力——[起來，行下一步吧。 ]我們有了神的感動，下一步該是什麼？完全信靠他，在他救贖的憑據上禱告。千萬別讓失敗的意識阻礙你新的行動。
祈禱◆主啊，一份茫然的孤寂感似乎圍繞著我的生命，它是那樣的模糊不清，令我難以將它說明。我沒有下過錯誤的決定，因為我已經按照你所指示的去行，但那種不肯定的感覺卻揮之不去。求你抹去這片迷濛的雲霧，將它變成帶著秩序和形式的青天。
February 17, 2013
Taking the Initiative Against Depression
Arise and eat—1 Kings 19:5
The angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never depressed, we would not be alive—only material things don’t suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.
When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.
衝破苦悶的動力
起來吃罷。 （王上十九5）
天使沒有給以利亞異象，沒有向他解釋聖經，也沒有做什麼特殊的事；他只吩咐以利亞做一件最簡單的事——起來吃罷。我們若從不曾沮喪，就不是真正生活過的人；只有水晶體才從不會沮喪。人，是會苦悶低沉的，就是會死亡的東西；你對自己的估評裡，總要把沮喪的可能性計算在內。
神來臨，並不是給我們異象，只是吩咐我們做最尋常的事。沮喪往往令我們轉離神創造的尋常事物，但神來到，卻感動人做最簡單的事。我們以為神絕不會在那些事物裡面，誰知稍有行動，就發現他在那裡。這樣的感動臨到我們，就是對抗苦悶低沉的一種動力；要跟著做該做的，依神的感動去做。反之，若我們故意做什麼，企圖去勝過沮喪，就只會變本加厲；我們若照神的吩咐去做，沮喪就會消失。隨即可以起來，遵神的旨意去行。這時，已進入生命的另一更高境界了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，令我感到驚訝的是，在我外在的生活中，我幾乎是完全無力去彰顯你和你的美善。願主我的神的美善，在今天臨到我身上。
The angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never depressed, we would not be alive—only material things don’t suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.
When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.
衝破苦悶的動力
起來吃罷。 （王上十九5）
天使沒有給以利亞異象，沒有向他解釋聖經，也沒有做什麼特殊的事；他只吩咐以利亞做一件最簡單的事——起來吃罷。我們若從不曾沮喪，就不是真正生活過的人；只有水晶體才從不會沮喪。人，是會苦悶低沉的，就是會死亡的東西；你對自己的估評裡，總要把沮喪的可能性計算在內。
神來臨，並不是給我們異象，只是吩咐我們做最尋常的事。沮喪往往令我們轉離神創造的尋常事物，但神來到，卻感動人做最簡單的事。我們以為神絕不會在那些事物裡面，誰知稍有行動，就發現他在那裡。這樣的感動臨到我們，就是對抗苦悶低沉的一種動力；要跟著做該做的，依神的感動去做。反之，若我們故意做什麼，企圖去勝過沮喪，就只會變本加厲；我們若照神的吩咐去做，沮喪就會消失。隨即可以起來，遵神的旨意去行。這時，已進入生命的另一更高境界了。
祈禱◆噢，主啊，令我感到驚訝的是，在我外在的生活中，我幾乎是完全無力去彰顯你和你的美善。願主我的神的美善，在今天臨到我身上。
February 16, 2013
The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative
Arise from the dead . . .—Ephesians 5:14
Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, “Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard—just do what needs to be done!” That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, “Get up and get going,” suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.>
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, “Arise from the dead . . . .” When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to “arise from the dead” and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we “get up and get going.” God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, “Arise from the dead . . . ,” we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand” (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.
屬靈推動力的發源
當醒過來，從死裡復活。 （弗五14）
並非所有推動力都是從神感動來的。有人會對你說：[振作起來吧！把你的閒懶治死，勇往直前！ ]這屬於人的推動力。但神的靈進前來認真地說：[振作吧。 ]這推動力是從神發出。
年輕的時候，我們都有不少異象理想；可是總有一天，會發覺根本無力實現。所渴望的若無法實行，就會視這等異象理想為已死。然後神對你說：[從死裡復活。 ]當神的感動真的臨到，會帶出神奇無比的能力，叫我們能從死裡復生，作出不可能的事。屬靈推動力最特別之處，是我們先要[振作起來]，然後才有生命力。神的感動來了，他說：[從死裡復活。 ]我們必須自己起來，因神並不拖我們起來。主對那枯乾了手的人說：[伸出你的手來。 ]那人一伸手，就得了醫治。他必須採取主動。你若肯起來，就必發現神的感動，因為他立即把生命給你。
祈禱◆[肉體是何等經常陷於危險和困頓之中]——然而這在我生命中激起什麼呢？當我醒來，願你以你靈的默示伴隨我。
Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, “Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard—just do what needs to be done!” That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, “Get up and get going,” suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.>
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, “Arise from the dead . . . .” When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to “arise from the dead” and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we “get up and get going.” God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, “Arise from the dead . . . ,” we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand” (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.
屬靈推動力的發源
當醒過來，從死裡復活。 （弗五14）
並非所有推動力都是從神感動來的。有人會對你說：[振作起來吧！把你的閒懶治死，勇往直前！ ]這屬於人的推動力。但神的靈進前來認真地說：[振作吧。 ]這推動力是從神發出。
年輕的時候，我們都有不少異象理想；可是總有一天，會發覺根本無力實現。所渴望的若無法實行，就會視這等異象理想為已死。然後神對你說：[從死裡復活。 ]當神的感動真的臨到，會帶出神奇無比的能力，叫我們能從死裡復生，作出不可能的事。屬靈推動力最特別之處，是我們先要[振作起來]，然後才有生命力。神的感動來了，他說：[從死裡復活。 ]我們必須自己起來，因神並不拖我們起來。主對那枯乾了手的人說：[伸出你的手來。 ]那人一伸手，就得了醫治。他必須採取主動。你若肯起來，就必發現神的感動，因為他立即把生命給你。
祈禱◆[肉體是何等經常陷於危險和困頓之中]——然而這在我生命中激起什麼呢？當我醒來，願你以你靈的默示伴隨我。
February 15, 2013
"Am I My Brother’s Keeper?"
None of us lives to himself . . . —Romans 14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性德每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
我豈是看守我弟兄的嗎？
我們沒有一個人為自己活。 （羅十四7）
你有沒有想過別人靈性的光景，在神面前我們是有責任要承擔？例如我暗地裡偏離神，四周的人都必受累。我們是[一同坐在天上]、[一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦]。你一旦容讓肉體的私慾、思想的怠惰，德行的放鬆、屬靈的遲鈍，你的同伴就要受損。你會說：[立這樣的標準，誰能當得起呢？ ]惟有神自己，我們所能承擔得是出於神。
[你們要作我的見證]。有多少人肯把精力、智力、德性、靈性德每一分為耶穌基督擺上呢？見證這個字在神的心目中，正是這個意思。是要用時間，要耐心。神留我們在地上是為了什麼？得拯救？得成聖？絕不，乃是為他。我願否為他成為劈開得餅，倒出得酒？我甘願被剝奪一切，完全捨棄觀點立場，只為主使萬人作門徒？我以生命作主工人，是對神說不盡得救恩和致謝。記住，每個人都有可能成為被廢棄的銀子——[……恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。 ]
祈禱◆為著你的話說——[父親怎樣憐恤他得兒女，耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人]——我讚美你。我何其認清我所領受到的，絕不是你的嚴苛，卻全然是你的慈愛。噢，願你向我所施的慈愛、溫柔與忍耐，能夠透過我向其他人表達。
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